The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-24
FORT SMITHS PROSPECTS
AN INSIGHT INTO HER ADvAN.
TAGES AND RESOURCES.
A Stupendous Corporation Buys 25,'
900 Acres Of Land Near
Chattanooga.
[ccRREspoSDExcE OF rHH APPEAL

FORT SMITH, ARK March 21.-Peo.
pie insist that the present improve
ment in value OF real estate in Ar.
kansas, particularly here in this city,
is "Ooom." I don't consider 1t 30.
She's merely attracting attention to
the great natural advantages Of her
location, which / have insisted for
many years she was justly entitled to
and now about to realize. l drew my
inspiration from gentlemen OF learn
ing, whose scientific training ent tied
them to consid ration. They deemed
the thirty. fifth psral ell the gateway to
the Gulf and Fort Smith the Key
Gen. Marcy, the explorer, purchased
lots here for his daughter, who be-
came the wife of Gen. George B. Nc
Clellan. DIR. Abedee, United States
Army; Gen. Burns, now Assistant
Commissary General United States
Army, and that sagacious, far seeing
gentleman, Gan. Bonneval, United
States Army, who invested here
and in st. Louis; Lieut.. Nc
Kavit, OF the Seventh Infantry,
who was killed at Palo Alto,
entered whole section of land near
here, which he bequeathed to char
liable institution in New York, whose
innatts will ever bless his memory.
This city is crowded with strangers
from different Western States 10 at
tend the sale of lots donated by the
government to the city for educational
purposes, located on what is known
as the reservation" They are a fine
body Of men; intelligence, thrift and
eo-aheaditivenees is marked upon
their faces. Several have ir quired of
me: "What are the great natural re-.
sources of this section you speak Off"
My reply is; "Climste, fertility OF
soil, coal fields, E lest timber OF nearly
every variety, iron ore and many other
valuable minerals" They then say:
with all these natural advantages
why has she not progressed furtherW
My reply is, first, being imme diately
adjoining the Indian Territory, she
had no commerce but that derived
from several military posts, Forts
Coffee, Gibson, Towson, Washita and
Arbuckle, and The Indian trade de.
rived from their snnuities. In 1858.
so there was a marked improvement,
about which time the unpleasantness
between the sections commenced.
Arkansas was true to the Union, and
when the first secession convention
was called voted m7st emphatica ly
"no," but when
"RampsntwSr yOked the red dragon to her
iron carr
she succumbed. This place being on
the frontier was more exposed TO dan
ger than any other point, her citizens
f15d, her young men joined the army,
andwhen the unfortunate war wss over
her people eturned-returned to
desolated homss and commenced
life anew amidst pinching
poverty. You of the Northwest
were more fortunate. Your soldiers
returned victorious to happy homes
with pockets we'll lined with SCREEN
backs" and commenced life amidst
affiuehce. / am some times astonished
to think how we'll she has recuperated.
You gentlemen of the Northwest,
coming to her with capital, will revive
all her energies, and believe she will
soon stand in her greatness ss a monu-
ment OF the industry, intelligence and
thrift OF Western progress. There is
another fact 1 tell them not to be
overlooked, the lands of this State
will produce on an average 300 pounds
of lint cotton to tho acre. These lands
have been selling from IS to $40.
What an opportunity for profitable in
vestment, for say what you may, cot
ton is king, and may Gcd bless
Arkaneae, RoaGY.